Black Europe Film Festival

The Art of Remembering: Black Lives in Painting • Free Film Program + Q&A with Directors

Sunday, February 2 • 2:00pm • Tickets: FREE

**Event Location: Minneapolis Institute of Art • 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404**

This special free program of the Black Europe Film Festival presented in collaboration with the Minneapolis Institute of Art pairs two films that explore the representation of Black individuals in European art and culture. Looking at paintings and arts featuring Black characters, Vanus Labor by Salad Hilowle and We Were Here by Fred Kuwornu urge us to take notice of a longer history of Black presence in Europe.

Through these works, this program addresses the multifaceted relationship between historical memory, artistic representation, and cultural reclamation. Vanus Labor examines the overlooked presence of Black identity within Swedish art history, centering on evocative imagery and themes of visibility. We Were Here expands this exploration, uncovering the untold narratives of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe, reframing how their contributions and presence have been systematically (and intentionally) erased.

Together, these films provoke a critical conversation about the power of art—whether painting or film—to challenge dominant historical narratives, assert agency, and foster collective memory.

Panel Discussion: The accompanying panel discussion will weave together questions of historical erasure, the ethics of curation, and the intersections of personal and collective memory. By bringing together filmmakers, curators, and cultural programmers, the conversation will illuminate the shared responsibility of artists and institutions in preserving and amplifying these vital histories. Through this dialogue, we aim to inspire new ways of seeing and understanding the legacy of Black lives in European art and beyond.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

Salad Hilowle was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and moved to Gävle, Sweden, at the age of seven. Now based in Stockholm, he is an acclaimed multimedia artist exploring historical narratives and the African diaspora's influence on history and contemporary culture. Hilowle’s first major solo exhibition outside of Sweden opens at the American Swedish Institute in June 2025. More info: ASIMN.org

Fred Kudjo Kuwornu is an Afro-Italian filmmaker, artist, and scholar based in New York. Known for his socially engaged work, Kuwornu examines identity and race by remixing historical and archival materials. His films have been showcased at the 60th Venice Art Biennale (2024), the Museum of the Moving Image (NY), the Library of Congress, and international film festivals.

ABOUT THE FILMS

Vanus Labor (Sweden • 2021 • 13 min • Director: Salad Hilowle)

In Vanus Labor, Salad Hilowle weaves an evocative and meditative portrait of labor, memory, and belonging through the story of Coschi, a slave boy trafficked to Sweden in the 18th century. Coschi, whose existence was immortalized through the diaries he kept and portraits painted by renowned artists of the time, becomes a conduit for exploring the intersections of Black history, identity, and resilience.

Drawing inspiration from the Latin phrase vanus labor, meaning "empty labor," the film bridges past and present as Hilowle reads fragments of Coschi's diaries, intertwining them with reflections on the struggles of Sweden’s immigrant and Afrodescendant communities.

Vanus Labor is provided by Filmform – The Art Film & Video Archive.

We Were Here: The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe (Italy • 2024 • 60 min • Director: Fred Kuwornu)

We Were Here unveils the hidden history of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe through the lens of iconic painting and artworks. This multilingual documentary, filmed across Europe, challenges the traditional narrative that all Black individuals in Europe in this era were slaves or servants. Instead, it highlights a richly diverse presence that included princes, ambassadors, merchants, and religious figures. Narrated from an Afro-European perspective, the film delves into stories absent from conventional history books, documenting how Europe has always been far less white than it is often assumed to be.

By interweaving art history with powerful social narratives, We Were Here reframes the European Renaissance, shedding light on the complex and often overlooked tapestry of Black presence in shaping this pivotal era.

This program is presented by the Black Europe Film Festival and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, with the support of the Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/Saint Paul and the American Swedish Institute.

ABOUT - BLACK EUROPE FILM FESTIVAL

The Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul is a groundbreaking celebration of Afro-European cinema, debuting in the Twin Cities from January 30 to February 2, 2025. Rooted in community collaboration and anti-racist organizing, BEFF MSP brings you a dynamic lineup of documentaries, fiction films, and shorts by Europe’s most acclaimed Afro-descendant filmmakers. This festival offers a space for artists to showcase their work and foster connections across the global Black diaspora and the international film community. At its core, BEFF MSP recognizes the intertwined legacies of racism, colonialism, and displacement while celebrating the vibrancy, creativity, and resilience of Black filmmakers. These artists challenge stereotypes, redefine narratives, and envision worlds beyond the limits imposed by whiteness, amplifying an authentic vision of Black Europe and Black Europeans. The festival experience is enriched by masterclasses, filmmaker encounters, workshops, lectures, and artist residencies, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and joy. Join us to celebrate the power of storytelling and the boundless creativity of Afro-European cinema while engaging diverse audiences, communities, and youth.